Bird Life

For the bird watchers and those who may just have a passing interest in this fascinating section of the animal world, a list of birds that have visited Violet Town and surrounding areas.

Some residents have compiled lists of birds observed in their area of residence or in a particular bushland area close to Violet Town. These areas are Koonda, 12km north of Violet Town, Upotipotpon and Koornong at Long Gully.

The HREP Group has also carried out formal surveys of the bird life along the Honeysuckle Creek within the Violet Town Recreation Reserve since 2013. An article about these surveys has been included below and also a link to the colourful brochure Birds of the Honeysuckle Creek which was produced by the HREP Group in 2015.

Bird species of the Bushland Reserve near Koonda

The Bushland Reserve is located about twelve kilometres to the north of Violet Town on the Nalinga-Dookie Road.

Brown goshawk

Peregrine falcon

Brown falcon

Painted button quail*

Black fronted dotteral

Peaceful dove

Common bronzewing

Crested pigeon

Little corella

Musk lorikeet*

Purple crowned lorikeet*

Little lorikeet*

Swift parrot

Cockatiel*

Budgerigar*

Crimson parrot

Eastern rosella

Red rumped parrot

Pallid cockatoo*

Fan tailed cuckoo

Boobook owl

Tawny frogmouth*

Kookaburra

Sacred kingfisher

Rainbow bee eater

Welcome sparrow

Tree martin

Richard's pippit

White winged triller

Scaly thrush

Flame robin

Scarlet robin*

Hooded robin*

Eastern yellow robin

Jacky winter*

Crested shrike tit

Gilbert's whistler*

Golden whistler

Rufous whistler

Grey shrike thrush

Restlest flycatcher

Willie wagtail

Grey fantail

Grey crowned babbler

White browed babbler*

Rufous songlark

Superb blue wren

Southern whiteface*

Striated thornbill

Yellow thornbill

Buff rumped thornbill

Yellow rumped thornbill

Western warbler

Varied sitella

Brown tree creeper*

Red wattlebird

Noisy friarbird

Little friarbird

Noisy miner

Blue faced honeyeater*

White naped honeyeater

Fuscous honeyeater

White fronted chat

Mistletoe bird

Spotted pardalote

Striated pardalote

European goldfinch

Diamond firetail*

Olive backed oriole

White winged chough

Mudlark

Dusky woodswallow

Australian magpie

Pied currawong

Little raven

Australian raven

Painted honeyeater

Australian owlet-nightjar*

White throated treecreeper

White browed swallow

Black faced cuckoo shrike

Yellow tufted honeyeater

Sulphur crested cockatoo

White bellied cuckoo shrike

White plumed honeyeater

Horsfield's bronze cockatoo

Black chinned honeyeater*

Bird species of "pootong pootong" / Upotipotpon

Common Name

Scientific Name

Black Swan

Cygnus atratus

Australian Shelduck

Tadorna tadornoides

Australian Wood Duck

Chenonetta jubata

Pacific Black Duck

Anas superciliosa

Australasian Grebe

Tachybaptus novaehollandiae

Little Pied Cormorant

Phalacrocorax melanoleucos

White-faced Heron

Egretta novaehollandiae

White-necked Heron

Ardea pacifica

Australian White Ibis

Threskiornis molucca

Straw-necked Ibis

Threskiornis spinicollis

Yellow-billed Spoonbill

Platalea flaveolens

Black Kite

Milvus migrans

Whistling Kite

Haliastur sphenurus

White-bellied Sea-Eagle

Haliaeetus leucogaster

Brown Goshawk

Accipiter fasciatus

Wedge-tailed Eagle

Aquila audax

Little Eagle

Hieraaetus morphnoides

Brown Falcon

Falco berigora

Australian Hobby

Falco longipennis

Black Falcon

Falco niger

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Nankeen Kestrel

Falco cenchroides

Painted Button-quail

Turnix varia

Bush Stone-curlew

Burhinus grallarius

Masked Lapwing

Vanellus miles

Black-fronted Dotterel

Elseyornis melanops

Common Bronzewing

Phaps chalcoptera

Crested Pigeon

Ocyphaps lophotes

Galah

Cacatua roseicapilla

Little Corella

Cacatua sanguinea

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Cacatua galerita

Cockatiel

Nymphicus hollandicus

Musk Lorikeet

Glossopsitta concinna

Little Lorikeet

Glossopsitta pusilla

Australian King-Parrot

Alisterus scapularis

Crimson Rosella

Platycercus elegans

Eastern Rosella

Platycercus eximius

Swift Parrot

Lathamus discolor

Red-rumped Parrot

Psephotus haematonotus

Budgerigar

Melopsittacus undulatus

Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx basalis

Barn Owl

Tyto alba

Southern Boobook

Ninox boobook

Tawny Frogmouth

Podargus strigoides

Australian Owlet-nightjar

Aegotheles cristatus

Spotted Nightjar

Eurostopodus argus

White-throated Needletail

Hirundapus caudacutus

Laughing Kookaburra

Dacelo novaeguineae

Sacred Kingfisher

Todiramphus sanctus

Rainbow Bee-eater

Merops ornatus

Brown Treecreeper

Climacteris picumnus

Superb Fairy-wren

Malurus cyaneus

Spotted Pardalote

Pardalotus punctatus

Striated Pardalote

Pardalotus striatus

Weebill

Smicrornis brevirostris

Western Gerygone

Gerygone fusca

Yellow-rumped Thornbill

Acanthiza chrysorrhoa

Yellow Thornbill

Acanthiza nana

Southern Whiteface

Aphelocephala leucopsis

White-plumed Honeyeater

Lichenostomus penicillatus

Fuscous Honeyeater

Lichenostomus fuscus

Noisy Miner

Manorina melanocephala

Blue-faced Honeyeater

Entomyzon cyanotis

Black-chinned Honeyeater

Melithreptus gularis

Brown-headed Honeyeater

Melithreptus brevirostris

Painted Honeyeater

Grantiella picta

Little Friarbird

Philemon citreogularis

Noisy Friarbird

Philemon corniculatus

Red Wattlebird

Anthochaera carunculata

Black Honeyeater

Certhionyx niger

Pied Honeyeater

Certhionyx variegatus

White-fronted Chat

Epthianura albifrons

Eastern Yellow Robin

Eopsaltria australis

Scarlet Robin

Petroica multicolor

Red-capped Robin

Petroica goodenovii

Flame Robin

Petroica phoenicia

Pink Robin

Petroica rodinogaster

Hooded Robin

Melandryas cucullata

Jacky Winter

Microeca fascinans

Grey-crowned Babbler

Pomatostomus temporalis

White-browed Babbler

Pomatostomus superciliosus

Varied Sittella

Daphoenositta chrysoptera

Golden Whistler

Pachycephala pectoralis

Rufous Whistler

Pachycephala rufiventris

Grey Shrike-thrush

Colluricincla harmonica

Eastern Shrike-tit

Falcunculus frontatus

Restless Flycatcher

Myiagra inquieta

Magpie-lark

Grallina cyanoleuca

Grey Fantail

Rhipidura albiscapa

Willie Wagtail

Rhipidura leucophrys

Masked Woodswallow

Artamus personatus

White-browed Woodswallow

Artamus superciliosus

Dusky Woodswallow

Artamus cyanopterus

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike

Coracina novaehollandiae

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike

Coracina papuensis

White-winged Triller

Lalage sueurii

Olive-backed Oriole

Oriolus sagittatus

Grey Butcherbird

Cracticus torquatus

Pied Butcherbird

Cracticus nigrogularis

Australian Magpie

Gymnorhina tibicen

Pied Currawong

Strepera graculina

Australian Raven

Corvus coronoides

Little Raven

Corvus mellori

White-winged Chough

Corcorax melanorhampos

Welcome Swallow

Hirundo neoxena

Fairy Martin

Hirundo ariel

Tree Martin

Hirundo nigricans

Mistletoebird

Dicaeum hirundinaceum

Australian Pipit

Anthus australis

Diamond Firetail

Stagonopleura guttata

Rufous Songlark

Cincloramphus mathewsi

Brown Songlark

Cincloramphus cruralis

*Eurasian Blackbird

Turdus merula

*Common Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

*Common Myna

Acridotheres tristis

The bird list was created by Lance Williams of Trust for Nature.

Birds seen at 'Koornong' in Long Gully near Violet Town

Stubble Quail

Rainbow Bee-eater

Black-chinned Honeyeater

Brown Quail

White-throated Needletail

Brown-headed Honeyeater

Peaceful Dove

Fork-tailed Swift

Scarlet Honeyeater

Common Bronzewing

Pallid Cuckoo

Eastern Spinebill

Crested Pigeon

Fan-tailed Cuckoo

White-fronted

Australasian Grebe

Black-eared Cuckoo

Honeyeater

Hoary-headed Grebe

Horsfi eld's Bronze-Cuckoo

Regent Honeyeater

Little Pied Cormorant

Shining Bronze-Cuckoo

Fuscous Honeyeater

Masked Lapwing

Welcome Swallow

Yellow-faced Honeyeater

Black-fronted Dotterel

Tree Martin

White-eared Honeyeater

Australian White Ibis

Fairy Martin

Yellow-tufted Honeyeater

Straw-necked Ibis

Grey Fantail

White-plumed

Yellow-billed Spoonbill

Rufous Fantail

Honeyeater

White-faced Heron

Willie Wagtail

New Holland Honeyeater

White-necked Heron

Leaden Flycatcher

Noisy Miner

Nankeen Night Heron

Restless Flycatcher

Red Wattlebird

Australian Wood Duck

Scarlet Robin

Noisy Friarbird

Australian Shelduck

Red-capped Robin

Little Friarbird

Pacifi c Black Duck

Flame Robin

Richard's Pipit

Grey Teal

Eastern Yellow Robin

Diamond Firetail

Hardhead

Golden Whistler

Red-browed Finch

Collared Sparrowhawk

Rufous Whistler

Olive-backed Oriole

Wedge-tailed Eagle

Grey Shrike-thrush

White-winged Chough

Little Eagle

Magpie-Lark

Pied Currawong

Whistling Kite

Crested Shrike-tit

Grey Currawong

Black Kite

Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike

Australian Magpie

Black-shouldered Kite

White-winged Triller

Australian Raven

Australian Hobby

White-throated Gerygone

Little Raven

Brown Falcon

Western Gerygone

Rock Dove

Nankeen Kestrel

Weebill

Striated Pardalote

Southern Boobook

Southern Whiteface

Common Blackbird

Rainbow Lorikeet

Striated Thornbill

House Sparrow

Musk Lorikeet

Yellow Thornbill

European Goldfi nch

Purple-crowned Lorikeet

Brown Thornbill

Common Myna

Little Lorikeet

Buff-rumped Thornbill

Common Starling

Gang-gang Cockatoo

Yellow-rumped Thornbill

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

White-browed Scrubwren

Little Corella

Rufous Songlark

Long-billed Corella

Clamorous Reed-Warbler

Galah

Superb Fairy-wren

Australian King-Parrot

Masked Woodswallow

Crimson Rosella

White-browed

Eastern Rosella

Woodswallow

Red-rumped Parrot

Dusky Woodswallow

Budgerigar

Varied Sittella

Tawny Frogmouth

Brown Treecreeper

Dollarbird

White-throated

Laughing Kookaburra

Treecreeper

Sacred Kingfi sher

Mistletoebird

Azure Kingfi sher

Spotted Pardalote

Silvereye

White-naped Honeyeater

Honeysuckle Creek Wildlife, Part 1: The birds

Honeysuckle Creek begins its life as a small trickle somewhere in the vicinity of Boho South up on the Strathbogie plateau, then heads to the north-west and north down the slopes of the Strathbogie Ranges, widening out onto the plains towards the Goulburn River.

In Violet Town it runs right through our town from the base of the hills on to the plains; we can feel particularly blessed that we have this wonderful natural feature wending its way through an otherwise human-constructed setting. The Honeysuckle brings water – in the form of flowing stretches and still pools - and wildlife that find a place in the creek and the fringing plants and the broader width of vegetation. It gives us a wonderful opportunity to observe and appreciate a real slice of nature occurring on our town’s doorstep. We are fortunate that there is still a good - albeit narrow - cover of eucalypts, and other trees, fringing the creek (with, very notably, a number of large, very old, hollow-bearing individuals). Many of us appreciate the leafy environment, the water, the large eucalypts, the birds and the frogs.

As part of Stage 2 of the Honeysuckle Recreational Environment Project (HREP) we are undertaking surveys to observe and record the fauna that occurs along the creek.

There are several reasons why we want to do this. We’d like to determine which species of bird, mammal, frog and reptile live here, and where exactly. We also wish to learn just what effect our restoration and revegetation efforts are having on the fauna of the creek and its immediate environs, and what we can do better, in terms of our works, to improve their lot.

We are carrying out day time surveys (anything that can be detected, including frogs and reptiles, but mainly birds) and night time spotlighting surveys (mainly for arboreal mammals, but, again includes birds and frogs, and anything else we can detect).

So far, 44 species of birds (including three non-natives), at least 8 species of mammal (including three non-natives), and five species of frog (all indigenous), have been recorded in the surveys. (Regarding the mammal numbers, there are unknown numbers of small insectivorous bat species that are occurring along the creek, but we can’t determine the identification of these purely by spotlighting surveys.)

The surveys have already shown that a higher diversity and numbers of birds occur where HREP volunteers have put in indigenous ground and shrub layer plants, such as the area behind the Bowls Club. It’s in places like here that we are particularly finding concentrations of mixed feeding flocks of small insectivorous birds that include Striated Thornbill, Weebill, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, as well as the odd one or two Grey Fantail (this one not ordinarily being a flocking bird). The improved condition, and increased complexity, of vegetation has made this area more attractive for these birds.

It is extremely pleasing to see that all the work that has been undertaken on the creek is actually providing increased habitat for these small birds. These species add so much to improve the ecological workings and health of the creek environment. Maybe the presence of such birds also adds to our own well-being. They are quite remarkable to watch through a pair of binoculars, and, as they work at gleaning insects from the branches and leaves, they are helping to ensure that experiencing our creek environment can remain an integral part of being a Violet Town resident and visitor.